Lottery instant-game ticket

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

p-0002This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/799,543, filed on May 11, 2006, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00031. Field of the Invention

p-0004The invention relates generally to an instant-game ticket for a lottery or other promotional type of game. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved scratch-off type lottery game card and game.

p-00052. Description of the Related Art

p-0006Many governments and/or gaming organizations sponsor wagering games known as lotteries, and which may also include promotional games. Lottery games have become an important source of income to governments as they shoulder much of the financial burden for education and other social welfare programs. However, as governments have grown more dependent on lotteries, it has become a challenge to sustain public interest therein as game players tend to seek new types and styles of games not previously seen.

p-0007One approach to invigorating lottery game sales has been to expand game content beyond traditional games in the hope that the new games will help keep current players as lottery game players, as well as draw in new game players for increasing lottery revenues for use in the public good. However, the game play of the instant ticket needs to remain simple such that the method of play and determination of a winning ticket are straightforward and readily comprehensible.

p-0008Among scratch-off lottery games, simple win-lose games are well known and have been played for a number of years such that players are less excited about playing these games than they may have been in the past, which would have the effect of reducing sales of the game. What is needed, therefore, is a new scratch-ticket play style that will excite traditional instant-game ticket game players and potentially entice new players to purchase tickets. It is thus to such an improved instant-game ticket that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0009The present invention is an instant-game ticket and method of making the ticket. The lottery instant-game ticket includes a substrate having a first set of game indicia placed on the substrate, with the first set of game indicia comprised of a first set of game symbols. The substrate includes a second set of indicia larger than the first set of game indicia and comprised of a second set of game symbols, with a subset of the second set of game symbols identical to a subset of the first set of game symbols, and a subset of the second set of game indicia each including a non-winning indicator. The first set of game indicia is covered with a removable covering that includes position indicators that are positioned substantially over each of the first set of game indicia such that removal of the removable material at the position indicator reveals a game symbol of the first set of game indicia. The second set of game indicia is covered with a removable covering that contains identical game symbols to the second set of game symbols, with the identical game symbols positioned substantially over a corresponding identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia whereby removal of the identical game symbol on the removable material will reveal the identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia and corresponding non-winning indicator, if present. Upon removal of the removable material over the second set of game indicia, a winning ticket is indicated by at least one winning game symbol present in the second set of game indicia.

p-0010The invention also includes a method for making an instant-game ticket through placing a first set of game indicia on a substrate, with the first set of game indicia including a first set of game symbols, and then placing a second set of indicia on the substrate larger in number than the first set of game indicia and comprised of a second set of game symbols, with a subset of the second set of game symbols identical to a subset of the first set of game symbols, and a subset of the second set of game indicia each including a non-winning indicator. The method then has the step of covering the first set of game indicia with a removable covering that includes position indicators that are positioned substantially over each of the first set of game indicia such that removal of the removable material at the position indicator reveals a game symbol of the first set of game indicia, and covering the second set of game indicia with a removable covering that contains identical game symbols to the second set of game symbols, with the identical game symbols positioned substantially over a corresponding identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia such that removal of the identical game symbol on the removable material will reveal the identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia and corresponding non-winning indicator, if present.

p-0011The present invention therefore provides an advantage in that the lottery instant-game ticket provides a novel method of play that will entice customers to purchase and play the ticket. The instant-game ticket is simple to play and readily conveys to the player whether the ticket is winning.

p-0012Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after review of the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and the Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> is an illustration of one embodiment of lottery instant-game ticket of the present invention with the variably imaged game data concealed by a removable scratch-off coating.

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> is the lottery instant-game ticket of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> with a position indicator scratched off and one of the identical symbols on the removable covering over the second set of indicia scratched off to reveal one of the second set of game symbols that also includes a non-winning indicator.

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1C</figref> is a plan view of the lottery game ticket of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1A</figref> with the scratch-off coating removed.

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2A</figref> is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of the lottery instant-game ticket including several potential multiplier spaces with the second set of indicia.

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2B</figref> is a plan view of the lottery instant-game ticket of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2A</figref> with the scratch-off coating removed revealing the first set and second set of game indicia, and the prize multiplier present within the second set of indicia.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

p-0018The present invention discloses a novel lottery or a promotional instant-game ticket, and a method of making the card or ticket. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1A-1C</figref>, the lottery instant-game ticket <b>10</b> includes a substrate <b>11</b> having a first set of game indicia <b>12</b> placed on the substrate <b>11</b>, with the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> including a first set of game symbols <b>13</b>. The substrate <b>11</b> includes a second set of indicia <b>14</b> larger in number than the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> and comprised of a second set of game symbols <b>15</b>, with a subset of the second set of game symbols <b>14</b> identical to a subset of the first set of game symbols <b>13</b>, and a subset of the second set of game indicia <b>14</b> each including a non-winning indicator <b>34</b>. The first set of game indicia <b>12</b> is covered with a removable covering <b>16</b> that includes position indicators <b>18</b> that are positioned substantially over each of the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> such that removal of the removable material at the position indicator <b>18</b> reveals a game symbol of the first set of game indicia <b>12</b>, as is shown at scratched-off portion <b>30</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> by scratching off of position indicator “suitcase <b>7</b>.”

p-0019The second set of game indicia <b>14</b> is covered with a removable covering <b>20</b> that contains identical game symbols <b>22</b>,<b>24</b> to the second set of game symbols <b>15</b>, with the identical game symbols <b>22</b>,<b>24</b> positioned substantially over a corresponding identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia <b>14</b> whereby, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1B</figref> at scratch-off spot <b>32</b>, removal of the identical game symbol on the removable material <b>20</b> will reveal the identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia <b>14</b> and corresponding non-winning indicator <b>34</b>, if present. Upon removal of the removable material <b>20</b> over the second set of game indicia <b>14</b>, a winning ticket is indicated by at least one winning game symbol <b>36</b> present in the second set of game indicia <b>14</b>. A winning symbol <b>36</b> is shown here as not have a strike-through non-winning indicator <b>34</b>.

p-0020The ticket <b>10</b> is comprised of a substrate upon which data is imaged, some of this data being predetermined and fixed in nature, for example the game name, the sponsoring entity and game play instructions <b>26</b>, and with some of the data being variably imaged as is known in the art. The ticket <b>10</b> is printed in known fashion using the known types of inks, and includes a removable “latex” or other polymer scratch-off layer (such removable coverings <b>16</b>,<b>20</b>) which overlies and securely conceals the variably imaged data, this scratch-off layer being comprised of known types of elastomeric coatings.

p-0021Thus, to play the instant game, the player exposes “X” number of play symbols (the game symbols may be prize amounts <b>22</b> or words <b>24</b>) in the first of two play areas. For every play symbol revealed in the first play area (set of first indicia <b>12</b>), the player marks that symbol on the second play (set of second indicia <b>14</b>) area as “eliminated”. In the second play area there preferably are “X+1” number of play symbols and an associated prize value (such as winning symbol <b>36</b>). Therefore, in this embodiment, the player will eliminate all but one of the game symbols <b>15</b> in of the second set of indicia <b>14</b>. That last remaining symbol will have a prize value or no prize value, depending upon whether or not it is a winning ticket. Thus, if one is left with “NO DEAL” as the last symbol of the second set of game indicia <b>14</b>, it is a losing ticket.

p-0022The first set <b>12</b> and second set <b>14</b> of game symbols can include dollar amounts, such as winning indicator <b>36</b>, or can include words, such as identical game symbol <b>24</b>. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1C</figref>, the instant-win ticket <b>10</b> has a winning game symbol <b>36</b> that is a dollar amount without a non-winning indicator <b>34</b>.

p-0023In another embodiment shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2A-2B</figref>, the instant-win ticket <b>40</b> includes a first set <b>42</b> and second set <b>44</b> of game indicia, with a first removable covering <b>46</b> with position indicators <b>52</b>, and second removable cover <b>48</b>. However, there are two or more of the second set of game indicia <b>44</b> without a non-winning indicator <b>34</b>, such as winning symbol <b>52</b> and multiplier <b>53</b>. In this embodiment, the second set of game symbols includes one or more multiplier spaces <b>50</b> for the player to scratch. Such spaces could also include other potential bonuses or money amounts or prizes (such as cars or other items), and does not only need to be a multiplier <b>53</b> that multiplies a winning game symbol dollar amount when both the multiplier <b>53</b> and the winning game symbol <b>54</b> are present in the second set of game indicia <b>44</b>.

p-0024It can thus be seen from the Figures that the present invention also provides a method for making an instant-game ticket <b>10</b> through placing a first set of game indicia <b>12</b> on a substrate <b>11</b>, with the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> including a first set of game symbols <b>13</b>, and then placing a second set of indicia <b>14</b> on the substrate <b>11</b> larger in number than the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> and comprised of a second set of game symbols <b>15</b>, with a subset of the second set of game symbols <b>15</b> identical to a subset of the first set of game symbols <b>13</b>, and a subset of the second set of game indicia <b>14</b> each including a non-winning indicator <b>34</b>. The method then has the step of covering the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> with a removable covering <b>16</b> that includes position indicators <b>18</b> that are positioned substantially over each of the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> such that removal of the removable material <b>16</b> at the position indicator <b>18</b> reveals a game symbol of the first set of game indicia <b>12</b> (as shown at scratch-off spot <b>30</b>), and covering the second set of game indicia <b>14</b> with a removable covering <b>20</b> that contains identical game symbols (such as identical symbols <b>22</b>,<b>24</b>) to the second set of game symbols <b>15</b>, with the identical game symbols are positioned substantially over a corresponding identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia <b>14</b> such that removal of the identical game symbol on the removable material <b>20</b> will reveal the identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia <b>14</b> and corresponding non-winning indicator <b>34</b>, if present, as shown at scratch-off spot <b>32</b>.

p-0025The foregoing descriptions present only exemplary embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the invention may be embodied in a variety of ways by varying the geometric figures, the plurality of positions within the figure, the plurality of positions selected by the player, the symbols, the plurality of symbols, the plurality of instances of each symbol, the assignment of point values to the symbols, and the prize table. In particular it is easily seen that an important special case of the invention is a lottery game where all the indicia are identical or have equal point values. These variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.